Three of my girlfriends and I are taking a fun little get away to London. After a long, bumpy, “Sorry, we’re out of the dessert you want” flight, we checked into our hotel and had more than five hours to start touring! Everyone else is passed out, but my email isn’t working so here I am. Blogging as I often want to but seldom have extra time for.

Here’s a few of the fun sights we have seen today:

Lunch in Green Park.

Traditional phone booth photos.

Westminister Abby

Big Ben

London Eye- from way up here we have a good view of the rioting that is burning down London.

And now we are all off to bed. I miss my hubby. I miss my kids. But I’m having SO MUCH FUN!!!

Filed under: Tina Time]]>https://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/2011/08/09/leaving-on-a-jet-plane/feed/0queentinamLate Lunch in Green ParkTina PhoneboothWestminister Abbybig benLondon EyeNo Lion Around!!!https://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/2011/01/16/no-lion-around/
https://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/2011/01/16/no-lion-around/#respondSun, 16 Jan 2011 06:50:41 +0000http://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/?p=148]]>It’s the new year, and along with half the world, or more, I too have made a few resolutions. The amazing thing is I’m actually keeping them this year! Woo hoo!!! One very important change I’m making in my life is to be present in the today.

In retrospect I see last year as being busy serving everyone around me- everyone but my family that is. I can hear myself telling my kids to hold on, just a minute, this has to be done NOW.

Finally Christmas came and I got sick- actually I think my body just shut down from doing too much. Ever had that one happen? Well, it happened to me and I’ve had some time to think I need something different in my life. First order of business was to realize I need to schedule my family time. Sounds sad, but there it is. So I told Tony to mark a certain day as unavailable because we were going out. Somewhere. Doing something. It was to be determined…

Well, I knew what I wanted to do, but kept that as a surprise. Can you guess?

We went to the zoo. Our zoo isn’t the best, but it is ours, and it’s as fun as you want to make it.

The kids took pictures of animals.

I took pictures of kids.

One thing we still need to work on is sticking together as a family. Poor Jack can’t walk yet, so Tony’s just pushing him along as fast as he can, then waiting for us to catch up. We weren’t together at any time during the day because as soon as I’d catch up he’d take off to the next animal.

We are so different!

But it was nice to realize that and work on making some changes.

The kids had fun, as expected. I had a blast. We laughed, made silly faces, and I loved every second. These days are the best!

Filed under: Family Time]]>https://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/2011/01/16/no-lion-around/feed/0queentinamScarlet's Liongood timesIMG_0076IMG_0077_MG_2427Searching for Tadpoleshttps://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/searching-for-tadpoles/
https://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/searching-for-tadpoles/#commentsMon, 12 Oct 2009 05:31:30 +0000http://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/?p=139]]>It doesn’t rain very often around here, but when it does it sounds like we live in the middle of a frog farm. I don’t know where they come from, but they are here in masses. The kids always like to go out the next morning and look for frogs and tadpoles.

Matt idolizes our neighbors son. He knows everything, according to Matt. So of course he was all ears learning how to catch tadpoles.

This one is my favorite.

I love curious boys.

Posted in Family Time ]]>https://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/searching-for-tadpoles/feed/2queentinam_MG_6859_MG_6861_MG_6885_MG_6869Party Like a Rock Star!!!https://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/party-like-a-rock-star/
https://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/party-like-a-rock-star/#respondMon, 12 Oct 2009 05:11:36 +0000http://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/?p=118]]>Official birthday parties around here are only on EVEN birthdays. So because this is number eight for Miss Scarlet, and because she is a rock star with her very own rock band, that was the perfect theme for the party.

We set up a stage, played fun music videos, invited the coolest girls in town to join in on the fun, and danced all night long! Here are just a few of our favorites:

Girls parties are the best!

Posted in Family Time ]]>https://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/party-like-a-rock-star/feed/0queentinam_1010234_1010238_MG_6397_MG_6506_1010330_MG_6504_MG_6411_MG_6382_MG_6475_1010354A Special Dayhttps://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/a-special-day/
https://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/a-special-day/#respondMon, 12 Oct 2009 04:33:41 +0000http://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/?p=111]]>If you are LDS, as we are, 8 is a special age. A most important age. It’s the time in your life that you get baptized. You’re now accountable for all your actions. As long as you make good choices you also get to have the Holy Ghost with you always. So many great blessings, for the child as well as the family.

Luckily she picked out my favorite dress of the bunch. Simple and lovely.

Poor thing has pink eye, if you didn’t notice. She was miserable.

Spunky girl.

Some of Scarlet’s cousins were able to come support her.

Lovely family shot.

Ah yes, that’s more like it.

Scarlet got to be baptized with her best friend (they’ve been best friends since before they were born) in July.

Eight is a special year, you know. When you are eight you are officially a “tween.” All that means is that you are beginning to act moody like a teenager, but only some of the times rather than all of the time. You also are ready for makeup and other fun grown up girly things. This has been going on in our house for the past few months already. It’s interesting…

We started our day by blowing horns and screaming “Happy Birthday” to Scarlet, waking her up at an early 7:30 am. She was crowned with her special birthday hat- a cowgirl hat, and decked out in all these jewels.

Our day was super fun. We started out early at the movie theatre. We saw Ice Age 3. It was the first show, so really we were the first on the west coast to see it. Aren’t we lucky!

Scarlet’s bestest friend in the whole world came with us. Did you know they have been friends since birth? Scarlet was late, and Kalei was early. 7 days apart. We like to say that they couldn’t stand being apart in heaven, so they arranged it that way. They are great friends and we love her to pieces!

Of course Matt was with us. He loved Ice Age 3. He mimicked about half of the movie, and has started using some wonderful words. Now why movies for kids have to have words like “stupid” in them is beyond me. More than that- I’m annoyed.

Moving on…

Scarlet’s Nani and Abuelo came for dinner, along with our best friends and their families. Scarlet got to pick dinner- My Famous Pasta, of course. It was good as always. The cake was another story all together. It basically nearly fell over. It was really humid, we had chocolate buttercream frosting, the house was warm from all the cooking that began at 2:00 in the afternoon. It tasted good though. That’s the most important part.

As she’s opening her gifts she’s begun saying really silly things and making really silly faces. Maybe not silly… goofy might be a more appropriate word.

Why is it at this age they all begin acting a little weird. Like doing these goofy faces in front of a mirror and perfecting them so she can do them at the dinner table.

And talking herself in circles while the rest of us are ready to scream “Get to the point!!!” It’s a delightful time, really. I wouldn’t change it for anything.

Happy birthday baby.

Posted in Family Time, Scarlet Rose ]]>https://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/2009/07/04/happy-birthday-scarlet/feed/0queentinamIMG_0075IMG_0068IMG_0071_MG_5767_MG_5750_MG_5732_MG_5759_MG_5768Mommy-Daughter Dayhttps://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/2009/06/06/mommy-daughter-day/
https://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/2009/06/06/mommy-daughter-day/#respondSat, 06 Jun 2009 06:01:20 +0000http://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/?p=43]]>Today was a big day for Scarlet.

Today she got to go shopping for a Baptism dress.

We’ve been shopping for a dress online for weeks now, but since they say she’s a size 5, when here she’s in a size 7/8 I thought it would be a good thing to try dresses on. Scarlet concurred.

Scarlet used to hate shopping- that’s definitely not too strong of a word in this case. But now, she’s in in her element.

Here’s a pop quiz: What’s a girl to do when faced with 50 dresses that you like?

The answer??? Try them all on.

This one we liked because of the ruffles. And the horizontal lines. All those layers! She loved them.

This one we liked because of the horizontal lines, and for the fabric. No sleeves though, but that could be arranged.

This one we liked for the fabric, the sleeves, and the trim at the waist.

Again the lines. This one also has a cute trim at the neckline. I didn’t get a picture from behind, but it’s got a massively huge rose on the back. If you didn’t know, Scarlet loves all things roses. It is her middle name, so of course it’s perfect for her.

She’s thinking about it, but how do you choose just one?

Well, she chose one. It’s a surprise though! It’s on order, in a size 5 if you can believe that!

You shall see soon enough!!!

Posted in Scarlet Rose ]]>https://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/2009/06/06/mommy-daughter-day/feed/0queentinam_MG_4650_MG_4598_MG_4600_MG_4604_MG_4611_MG_4612_MG_4636_MG_4615_MG_4620_MG_4635_MG_4643_MG_4647Memorial Dayhttps://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/2009/05/26/memorial-day/
https://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/2009/05/26/memorial-day/#commentsTue, 26 May 2009 06:02:19 +0000http://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/?p=23]]>Today is Memorial Day. Although there are no veterans who have passed on in my family, we have many in our family who have served valiantly. Thank you for what you do and have done for me and my children.

We weren’t with any of those special people today. They all live in other parts of the country. Today we spent the afternoon with our good friends Bishop and LaRae Livingston. We had a great time at their house. Bishop grilled up some fantastic steaks, aahhhh… their memory is still on my taste-buds, and two types of shrimp- teriyaki and bbq. Let me just say: SO GOOD! Bishop is a master at the grill. And at the dutch oven, but there was none of that today.

Of course, after a good lunch you’ve got to go swimming.

And that’s what we did.

As you can see here Tony was having a good time. This is exactly why I love him.

We spent a long time in the pool before I got out to take some pics. When I did, so did he. Notice the goggle marks? So cute! In a goofy kind of way.

Soon to join me was Angie. Angie is Bishop and LaRae’s daughter, and my good friend. You certainly can’t tell here, but she’s having another baby. Coming soon…

In the meantime we’ll enjoy her first. She doesn’t smile for anyone…

that is, anyone but GRANDPA.

These two are inseparable. And it’s so fun to watch!

Thanks for a great day and making new Memories…

Posted in Holidays ]]>https://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/2009/05/26/memorial-day/feed/1queentinam_MG_4539_MG_4512_MG_4505_MG_4508_MG_4511_MG_4514_MG_4521_MG_4522_MG_4523_MG_4524_MG_4525_MG_4534_MG_4536_MG_4546_MG_4549_MG_4553_MG_4544Sleepy Sundayshttps://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/2009/05/25/sleepy-sundays/
https://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/2009/05/25/sleepy-sundays/#commentsMon, 25 May 2009 02:46:48 +0000http://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/?p=13]]>Sunday’s are usually pretty fun around here. Get up late, play outside for awhile before getting ready for church, then after church dinner with friends.

This week is a little different.

This week the kids are sick.

It makes me so sad when they are.

Scarlet has a tummy ache. I gave her Tums.

Matt has diarrhea. I gave him Smartees.

Now they are both sleeping the day away, so hopefully they will feel better when they wake.

Posted in At Home ]]>https://lamamarazzi.wordpress.com/2009/05/25/sleepy-sundays/feed/2queentinam_MG_4504_MG_4503